Alternative Therapies That Can Improve Your Mental Health

by | | 0 comment(s)
Image of lady sitting in yoga pose and meditating.

Managing your mental health is an individualized journey. With each case and treatment, there is not a one size fits all solution. If traditional therapy is not working for you, there are alternative paths you can take to bring balance into your life.

Massage Therapy

Much of mental stress and anxiety puts tension and weight on your body. Most people experience the stress or muscle spasms in their shoulders and back. This happens because people with anxiety often shrug their shoulders and have difficulty relaxing. Massage Therapy is a targeted approach to that tension. When you go to a massage therapist, they help your muscles relax and provide much more than a temporary fix as it can help you return to a state of calmness which lowers feelings of anxiety. While it is not a solution to anxiety, it does help the adverse side effects.

Traditional Medicine

Just as mental health issues are not new, neither are the traditional treatment methods. This is a good alternative treatment if you want to go a more natural route instead of being dependent on pills. A popular example of traditional medicine is acupuncture. Acupuncture works off the idea that your body had an imbalance of energy or built-up tension. Similar to massage therapy, acupuncture helps with pain management, although research has yet to fully understand why and how it works.

Adopt a Pet

Those who suffer from mental health issues can largely benefit from companionship and taking care of a pet is a good way to achieve that. Pet ownership can give you a sense of purpose and a codependency that is mutually beneficial. They are also a great motivator for those who struggle with mental health to get outside and also meet other pet owners. If you like dogs, you should look into adopting a friendly breed like a mini Goldendoodle. Cats require less hands-on care than dogs but will still show affection to you as the owner. To test out if pet ownership is beneficial for you, it could be a good idea to volunteer at a shelter as you familiarize yourself with the animals without adding stress of responsibility right away.

Yoga

The main idea behind yoga is finding balance and centering your life. This helps those who struggle with mental health because it teaches them self-sufficient ways to release stress while increasing strength and flexibility. Yoga helps you to regulate your breathing and to clear your mind as you focus on the various positions instead of your worldly problems. Awareness of self is another benefit of yoga for mental health because it promotes internal reflection. It also looses up muscles that become tight as a result of mental stress. Since Yoga is more of a lifestyle, it is a sustainable treatment for anxiety and stress.

Music Therapy

Have you noticed that music helps you express your emotions? Music therapy has the same goal of relaxation as other therapies, but also provides a distraction from pain either it is through listening to music, playing music, or even writing music. Certain kinds of music help regulate your heart rate, decreasing the high blood pressure that often accompanies mental illness. Music therapy is popular among younger people as they often already listen to music often and therapy is an easy transition for them. When music therapy is used in terms of writing or playing music, it helps the patient find new outlets of self-expression when it may be difficult to find words.

Art Therapy

Similar to music therapy, art therapy provides an outlet of expression and relaxation for participants. Art therapists can help patients discover underlying sources of stress or anxiety that help them get to the root of their issues. It also helps cognitive function as patients utilize their creativity and gives them a sense of accomplishment at the end. Therapy can come in various art forms like drawing, painting, or sculpting. Creating an art piece can help those with mental illness move out of ruts where they experience stages of depression and lack of motivation.

Exercise

Aside from the physical health benefits, exercise can help your mental health as well. Regular exercise has been found to boost overall mood, which helps those who struggle with depression. Different types of exercise target different types of mental illness better, but overall, any movement that you enjoy is the most beneficial for you because you are more likely to do it. Often, exercise is goal oriented and helps you plan and achieve goals, again boosting mood with your sense of accomplishment. Exercise is known to improve your sleep as well and those who have a more fulfilled sleep are more equipped to handle everyday stressors. Team sports allow those struggling with mental health to build worthwhile relationships.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has become increasingly popular with the rise of essential oils and holistic treatments. Through inhalation or absorption, essential oils can be used to promote relaxation, focus, or reduce muscle irritation. Sometimes used in yoga or massage therapy practices, aromatherapy sends calming signals to your brain. Lavender is a popular scent for relaxation, often associated with sleep and stress reduction. If you suffer from tension headaches as a result of your stress, peppermint oil is thought to remedy those headaches, while citrus based oils aid depression as they brighten people’s mood. However, you have to be careful when purchasing essential oils to make sure that they have pure ingredients and that you will not have any allergic reactions to them.

Your mental health has multiple facets and often requires multiple treatments to help you get a handle on it. While you cannot always control what illnesses you are diagnosed with, you do have the power to decide how you will treat it and if you will turn to alternative forms of therapy. As you find what therapy works best for your mental health management, you start to see yourself transform as you take back control of your mind.

Read this next: Massage Bolsters and Massage Pillows

This entry was posted in .

You must be logged in to post comments.